GERALD BENNEY

Gerald Benney was born in 1930 in Hull to artistic parents, went to Brighton College of Art 1946-8 (his father was Principal) where he trained as a silversmith in the workshop of Dunstan Pruden at Ditchling. After military service he attended the Royal College of Art 1950-53 under Professor Robert Goodden. (Benney was Professor of Silversmithing and Jewellery here from 1974 to 1983). In 1953 he secured a workshop from the retiring owner Mr. S W Ide, the best gold-plater in London, at Whitfield Place off Tottenham Court Road. In 1958 he was made a Freeman of the Goldsmith's Company. 1964 elected a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. In 1969 he moved his London studio to Falcon Wharf, Bankside and by 1973 was at warehouses in Bear Lane, Southwark. Christopher Lawrence and Brian Fuller were both managers for him. With the crippling increase in VAT on luxury goods in 1974 he had to let most of his 19 staff go and moved everything to Beenham House, his home in Berkshire, where he stayed until 1998. Bear Lane was sold to Grant Macdonald who had a larger export market to the Middle East. From 1957-1969 Benney was Consultant Designer to Viners of Sheffield, designing pieces for silver, pewter and stainless steel production. In 1971 he became a Royal Designer for Industry. He had one man exhibitions at Goldsmith's Hall in 1973, enamels in 1994 and another in 2005. From 1974-1980 he received 4 Royal Warrants of appointment. Most important for the development of silver design he was appointed Professor at the Royal College of Art from 1974-1983. In 1981 he became Assistant at the Goldsmith's Hall. In 1993 his son Simon opened the showroom Benney in Walton Street. Gerald Benney died in 2008.

Personal Statement "My philosophy as such is to project and involve my own personal design theme without too much reference to others in the field."